Closing Session

The session started with prayers and a call of the names of deceased deacons, missionaries and ministers. It was a deeply moving moment with every member of the General Assembly standing whilst the names were being read out loud by Very Rev. Bill Hewitt.

After prayers, there was the departing address by the Principal Clerk the Very Reverend Finlay A.J. Macdonald who after receiving the kind salutation and welcoming words of the Right Rev. John Christie addressed the general Assembly for the last time. Very Rev. Macdonald has been Principal Clerk to the General Assembly since 2002 and has held this position with grace and erudition. He has been known to quote chapter and verse of reports from many “Blue Books” even sometimes remembering the page. Clearly such level of knowledge will be sadly missed. Very Rev Macdonald reminded the general assembly of a number of his predecessors, turning himself into a witty storyteller recounting humorous vignettes about the lives and perils of being a Principal Clerk. We all wish him every blessing on his retirement.

General Trustees report

Dr. James Jack presented the report. He mentioned that there were an increasing number of churches engaging with external organisations as they sought to develop their buildings in order to engage more effectively with their local communities. This shared use of buildings can only mean shared savings in the upkeep and maintenance of the buildings. He urges the commissioners to encourage their congregations to become innovative in their use of buildings and if possible to consider sharing the use of the buildings of their church.

Dr. Jack then reported on the upkeep of a deliverances passed last year instructing presbyteries to renew their insurances taking into consideration current valuations. He reported that 34 Presbyteries had completed such valuations, 12 were almost completed and only one presbytery had yet to complete the valuation. reported that the insurances had to be negotiated considering full reinstatement value.

Insurance costs were often mentioned during the discussion. This is echoing the financial situation of the Kirk. Some commissioners expressed the need for the General Trustees to be more proactive in the dissemination of information about available governmental funding for the upkeep of buildings, or the modification and upgrade for more efficient heating systems. Others expressed their desire for the General Trustees to negotiate on behalf of groups of parishes for collective buying of alternative forms of energy with which to heat the church buildings.

Iona Community report

The report of the Iona Community was delivered by Stewart Smith, Acting Convener of the community. Mr. Smith started his address by thanking the work of Rev. Kathy Galloway as former Leader of the Iona Community as wishing her every success in her new role as head of Christian Aid. Mr. Smith then introduced Peter Macdonald, the current leader of the community. Mr Smith told the Assembly that “change is possible” and that he encounters this often through the work of the Iona community, where people that come on retreat often speak of being in Iona as a transformational experience. This transformation is available not just for those going to Iona on pilgrimage, but also to people in more difficult situations.

Mr Smith then described the work of the Jacob’s Project. This is a project that befriends young re-offenders as they come out of jail. Befrienders meet the young people when they come out of prison and walk with them as they make a successful transition into society through support, advice and friendship. He quoted the words of a young man who has benefited from the programme “Without the Jacob’s Project I would have come out of Jail in a box. Nobody gives a monkeys when you come out of prison.” Eight young people are now settled into ordinary life, with either jobs or a place in an educational establishment. All of them had been befriended and supported by the Jacob’s project. Nothing is beyond the transforming power of God’s love” stated Mr. Smith.

The leader of the community then told the Assembly that membership to the community is not for life but must be renewed periodically and that members make a transparent account of the use of their personal funds in front of small house groups. This is to honour the commitment that “you only keep what you need to live on. To live simply, and to make an offering of the rest to the work of the Church is a priviledge” he concluded. The discussion that followed was evidence of the fondness and admiration felt by the Assembly for the work of the Iona Community. Numerous testimonies of people involved within the Jacob’s project were offered as well as fond accounts of retreats spent on the island.

Economic Commission launched by the Kirk

The Church of Scotland announced the membership of its newly created Commission on the Purposes of Economic Activity, which will spend two years exploring the fundamental ethical and moral questions underlying economic activity, many of which have been highlighted for society by the “credit crunch”. The Commission will take part in a number of meetings around the country organised through Presbyteries. There will also be meetings in Edinburgh, involving discussion with people with experience relevant to the Commission's work.
The Commission will primarily consider matters relating to the Scottish economy, and has identified two specific groups of problems, those relating to poverty and those relating to the use of wealth.

The Commission will look to answer three large questions:

How can the Church best offer Scottish society a new vision of what might be achievable in the economic, social and community life of the nation?

How can the Church, at local and national level, be encouraged to become more engaged in transformative economics, linking values such as justice, cohesion and sustainability to economic success?

How should inequality be addressed while ensuring that appropriate levels of choice are available to all?

Membership of the Committee is as follows:

Linda de Caestecker. Director of Public Health for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Glasgow City Council.
Paul Chapman Former director of "The Employment Project"
Reverend Doug GayLecturer in Practical Theology at the University of Glasgow
Reverend Kathy Galloway Head of Christian Aid in Scotland
Janette Harkess Director of policy and research, Scottish Council for Development and Industry
Werner G. Jeanrond Professor of Divinity at the University of Glasgow
David Lonsdale Assistant Director of CBI Scotland
John McFall Chairman of the Treasury Select Committee from 2001-10
Jeremy Peat Director of the David Hume Institute

Cathy McCormack Co-author of “The Wee Yellow Butterfly”
Grahame Smith General Secretary of the STUC
Jim Spowart Founder of Intelligent Finance (IF)

Prof.Mona Siddiqui addresses General Assembly

Mona Siddiqui addressed the General Assembly on its last day in Edinburgh. Dr Siddiqui is Director of the Centre for the Study of Islam at Glasgow University and Professor of Islamic Studies and Public Understanding. She contributes regularly for radio programmes like Thought of the Day as well as writing for the dailies.

Prof. Siddiqui started her address by stating what a privilege and humbling experience it was to be invited to speak at the Kirk’s General Assembly. She reminded the commissioners that the UK is a multicultural country and that this seemed to have happened, without having a lot of thought to what it actually means. She illustrated this idea with examples from her own life recounting the emigration of her parents from Pakistan into Yorkshire when she was 4 years old and of the decision eventually to remain in the UK due to the opportunities that the country offered the family as a whole. She said her family became British as a natural extension of their living here, but without a full exploration of what it really meant in terms of adoption of a shared identity and values. Nationality for her is not a matter of passport ownership, but rather an affirmation of a place where “I feel I belong so I am motivated to contribute to its society” she stated.

Prof. Siddiqui then spoke about the way the immigration debate captures the headlines and mentioned that stereotypes in portraying diverse communities is the norm rather than the exception. This has had the unfortunate effect of
painting communities with one sweep of the brush without due recognition to the diversity within those communities. This has happened in particular with the Islamic communities of the UK, where the picture presented by the popular press does not present the full diversity and different voices that exist within it.

Prof Siddiqui urged the Assembly to consider that immigrant communities have brought a wealth of intellectual, spiritual and cultural gifts which are enriching the tapestry of the country. However, to live in a pluralistic society means that differences need to be recognised and respected. In order to do this, everyone needs to make a conscious effort to be free of stereotypes and dogmatism. “Every one must confront its own struggle to make the world a better place” she said. Faith is a great inspiration to become fully engaged as an active citizen in society. Active citizenship is not just an option, but a moral and theological imperative for men and women of faith.

Social Care Council

The Convener of the Council, Mr. Sydney Graham started his address by drawing up the connections between the work of the council and the work of the Safeguarding Committee. The Social Services Council offers a number of social services to people in need in Christ’s name. Its remit is to provide specialist resources to further the caring work of the church and t identify existing and emerging areas of need, to guide the Church in pioneering new approaches to relevant problems and to make responses on issues arising within the area of the Council’s concern through appropriate channels.

The Convener stated that 94% of services were graded good or higher for Quality of Care and Support. Over 67% of staff is qualified for their posts and 171 staff gained qualifications in 2009. Some of those services were finalists for the Scottish Care Awards, and the Adams House was a finalist in the Great British Care Home Awards. Finally, the Bronze Award was given to the Oasis centre in Garelochhead. Clearly, these services are of the highest quality and are a good example of good practice.

The Convener then presented the reorganisation plans for the council, due to the general financial conditions of the Church of Scotland. He ended his report by stating that the council faced a time of challenge but this time also presented a real opportunity to continue the church’s witness through the provision of social care services throughout Scotland.

Safeguarding Committee

The report was delivered by the Vice-Convener Ranald Mair started his presentation by reminding the General Assembly of the road travelled by this committee since 1997 when it was decided that every parish church should be a safe environment for all, children, vulnerable, adults and the elderly. Since then the Safeguarding Committee has travelled a long road. Currently there are 18000 volunteer safeguarding coordinators and 65 trainers across Scotland. Courses in safeguarding are also regularly offered to raise awareness of the importance of safeguarding issues. Mr Mair described changes to the current procedures for providing discloser for people who through the nature of their work or volunteering activities are in constant contact with either children or vulnerable adults. There changes will move towards the establishment of a “disclosure passport” instead of the current system of multiple disclosure procedures. These changes, he said are in alignment with current governmental practices.

Mr Mair then presented an update of the implementation of the report Forgiveness and Proportionality. This report seeks the safe inclusion of sex offenders who have paid their debts to society into the church. The vice-convener spoke with passion of the advantages of safe inclusion and of the need to inform parish churches of the way to proceed with inclusion in a safe and sensitive manner. The report addresses the theological and practical issues of forgiveness and proportionality for sex offenders wishing to worship in Church of Scotland congregations. The report offers the theological inspiration for practical advice on the duty of accepting sex offenders who seek to worship while at the same time recognises the importance of affording protection to children and adults at risk. This report will undoubtedly inform the policy and practice of the church in relation to the inclusion of sex offenders in congregations. Through the work involved in the preparation of the report, and the work of the safeguarding office and its Disclosure procedures, The Church of Scotland is seen as an integral part of public protection in Scotland” concluded Mr. Mair.

The discussions centred on the need to develop a disclosure passport vs. current practices of multiple disclosures. It was evident throughout the discussion, the extreme care that the church of Scotland places on creating a safe environment for all who visit church buildings.

The SRTP 40th Anniversary

This was a fringe event at the General Assembly. The Society, Religion and Technology Project, of the Church of Scotland reached 40 years of operation. Since its start, this office has sought to reach an intersection between science, religion and society. Its work has been visionary in presenting an ethical approach with which to tackle difficult issues such as GM crops, in-vitro- fertilization, end of life issues and now, synthetic biology. Christians need informed and spiritually based information on these controversial subjects in order to live and make decisions within our technology rich times.

.A large audience was treated to an address by Dr. Murdo Macdonald, the Policy Officer of the project. They also heard Dr. Sinclair Scott, speak of his experience in serving in one of the groups of the project. Participants had the opportunity of picking up documentation on the history of the project and a booklet on the development of the project, written by Dr. John Francis. The 40th Anniversary cake was truly memorable. Happy Birthday

Report of the National Youth Assembly

The Moderator of the Youth Assembly, Mr. Ian Mclarty presented to the General Assembly with the proceedings of last year’s Youth Assembly. The Youth Assembly meets in order to offer 16-25 year olds the opportunity to debate issues and have a voice within the Church. Last year’s Youth Assembly took place for the first time in Stirling and there was plenty of opportunity for worship, music and debate. Particularly inspiring was the presence of the Emmanuel Gospel choir who uplifted everyone’s spirits.

The topics discussed during the Youth Assembly were:
- identity
- wealth
- spirituality and
- interfaith

Mr. Mclarty ended his address by thanking the work of Dr. Marjorie MacLean who during her years in the Church of Scotland worked very hard to get the voices of young people heard within the Church. He then thanked Steve Mallin for the theological nurturance with which he encouraged regularly members of the Youth Assembly.

Report of the Committee of Chaplains to HM Forces

“Being a Chaplain in Her Majesty’s forces is a privilege”. This was the clear sentiment of the address given Rev. James Gibson, Convener of the Committee to the General Assembly. He spoke eloquently of the care and dedication and pride that chaplains have for “their units” and of the ways when they deliver a full ministry within the forces even to the peril of their lives. He remembered the address given by Angus MacLellan to the General Assembly some years ago on the nature of his ministry in Iraq and pointed out how in a characteristically self-effacing manner, had “failed to mention the occasions when his life had been in danger”. “This is a full ministry, Moderator, not a ‘sector ministry’; chaplains deliver parish ministry in the fullest sense of the word. The difference is that this is ministry is performed in a different and often dangerous environment” he stated.


Rev. Gibson reported on recruiting statistics to the different services and stated with pride that successful recruitment had been achieved for the Royal Air force which traditionally has been difficult to fill from the Church of Scotland. "This might be, because the footprints of the Royal Air force is not as deep in the culture of Scotland as that of the army” he stated.


Journalist Jackie Bird spoke of her experiences during the development of a documentary series on the lives of the armed forces in Afghanistan and of the crucial role that the Padres fulfilled in the provision of spiritual and emotional support to those brave men and women. She spoke vividly of the commitment of the soldiers to their community and of the shared camaraderie that enabled them to risk their lives as an everyday ‘normal’ experience. Her comments were echoed in the address of Vice Admiral Dr. Richard Ibbotson.

The Vice Admiral is a hugely respected leader within the navy having been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross after the Gulf conflict and the NATO meritorious service medal. Vice Admiral Ibbotson spoke very warmly of his personal experience of seeing chaplains at work, providing “food for the soul” and attending a wide array of pastoral matters ranging from supporting a bereaved soldier deal with the loss of a cherished friend, or the difficulties of families suffering difficulties of prolonged absences from home. "The email and the mobile phones might be a blessing, but they also bring the problems of home into the theatre of war and this needs to be managed in order to have emotionally and morally fit soldiers” he said. The role of the Padre is probably even more important now than ever before, as war increasingly becomes depersonalised. The moral and ethical approach, combined with friendship and trust are skills that Padres offer at every turn and they are badly needed in the armed forces of today.

Church and Society Report

Rev. Ian Galloway presented an overview of the work of the council during the past year. He illustrated his address by presenting specific activities that represent the council’s remit. This remit is to present the voice of the church within civic society, as well as within the Scottish Parliament and the Parliament in Westminster. That voice however can only be authentic if it is reflected and rooted in a living Christian community.

Rev. Galloway spoke of the involvement of the council together with the Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office during the recently passed General Election and noted the development of informational materials for churches on how to conduct hustings.

The convener then addressed the commitment of the council to address ethical issues within the market economy. To this effect, the council was engaged in a series of conferences where academics and experts in economics and finance examined the causes for the current financial situation and presented options for ethical investment to be considered by men and women of faith.

Rev. Galloway then made reference to the work of the Society, Religion and Technology Project, which presented to the General Assembly a report on very recent scientific developments in the field of Synthetic Biology. The Church of Scotland is therefore the first church addressing such a complex and controversial issue from a Christian perspective.

The work in support of awareness for climate change issues and leading towards a review of progress on the implementation of the deliverance passed on the 2009 General Assembly regarding the reduction of church building’s carbon footprint was addressed. It was clear that the work of the council did not just involve developing awareness of climate change issues but also involved political activity through the council’s involvement in Parliamentary debates and the participation in support of climate change marches and debates.

Political involvement and activism were also expressed in the council’s involvement in the anti-nuclear movement through an ecumenically driven campaign involving postcards and the signing of a joint petition against Trident by a number of religious leaders. Direct political involvement was evident through the council’s participation in debate against the Assisted Suicide Bill in Scotland.

Finally, the Convener spoke of the work of the council in working with organisations that facilitate making the voices of the poor in Scotland known and heard. The Convener specifically mentioned the work of the Truth and Poverty Commission, where individuals that fight poverty and its discriminatory effects were given the opportunity to tell their stories directly to decision makers and parliamentarians. The work of the churches in priority areas was also highlighted.

The report was illustrated by the presentation of three videos which are also available in the Church and Society Youtube page.

Stevenson's Prize

Rev. Ian Galloway Convener of the Church and Society Council made the presentation of the Stevenson’s Prize in religious observance to one primary school and a secondary school. The prize is in honour of John Stevenson and is awarded every year to one primary school, one secondary school and one special needs school. The prize consists of £500 per school and the children that were involved in the religious observance winning projects will have a say in the way the monies will be used within their schools. The children, teachers and parents of Dunbar Grammar School, and Baljaffray Primary School received a warm round of applause by everyone in the General Assembly. Well done!

The Guild presents its report

The Guild presented a report on the actions undertaken following their strategy for the years 2009-2012. Mrs. Elizabeth Dunn, National Convener of The Guild started by stating “how much out of silence we women have become”. She then presented the work that The Guild is doing in conjunction with a variety of partners amongst which are The International Justice Mission who provides a safe place for children who have been sold into sex slavery. She spoke passionately of the Guild's firm conviction to fight human trafficking. She also mentioned the work of OtherSide who works with children in Scotland who are affected by their parents being in prison. She mentioned that there are more children in Scotland affected by this problem than by divorce.

Mrs. Dunn proceeded to speak of the work done in conjunction for A Place for Hope, in dealing with conflict resolution techniques. She spoke of the need to spread mediation skills amongst congregations.

The work of The Guild in support of the HIV/AIDS project, known from now on as the HIV/AIDS Programme was also highlighted and it became evident that the fundraising efforts and commitment of Guild members across Scotland to help those afflicted by HIV/AIDS and in need of nutrition was very successful. However their involvement is not only financial, Guild members launched an appeal for plastic gloves and school stationary for Zimbabwe and were able to chart 3 plane-loads of materials to that country.

Ms Dunn spoke warmly of the ecumenical work done in conjunction with Interfaith Action in Israel and Palestine, where Christian accompany Palestinians through their daily lives by simply living with them, and bearing witness to their trials and tribulations. She also made reference to the work done by Rabbis for Human Rights and their work in strengthening the links between Palestinian and Israeli women.

On a more administrative aspect of the report Mrs Dunn reported that the new constitution of The Guild had been revised, circulated and accepted by its members and sought the General Assembly’s approval of this new constitution.

All deliverances were approved and Mrs Dunn was thanked for work as National Convener.

HIV/AIDS Project

The Convener of the HIV/AIDS project group, Dr Robin Hill presented the report. Since 2001 The Church of Scotland has been actively involved in the fight against the spread of AIDS/HIV by offering practical support to local partner churches in geographical areas across African where the pandemic is strongest. The purpose of the HIV/AIDS project is to (1) break the silence on HIV/AIDS (2) stand together with partner churches (3) offer practical support 94) speak up for the voiceless and (5) involve every member of the church. Mr. Hill stated that the global HIV pandemic is at a critical point today and that the current picture differs significantly from the picture 26 years ago. There seems to be a stabilisation of the incidence of HIV infections and there are now more than 33 million people living with HIV according to UNAIDS 2008 data.

Different speakers who had gone to visit HIV projects in Malawi spoke enthusiastically about the incredible generosity of volunteers in that country who not only walk many miles to take care of HIV/AIDS patients, but share money and funds. It was seen that through the work of the project and its partners in Zambia, Sri Lanka and Ghana, that much more awareness about the problems of stigmatizing people with the virus is evident. Mrs Carol Finlay spoke eloquently of the willingness of HIV/AIDS sufferers to speak out and share their experience for the camera. Mrs. Finlay mentioned that this openness however is not universal across Africa and what seems to be the norm in Malawi is not the norm everywhere. She also spoke of the patients’ surprise upon learning that HIV/AISD sufferers in Scotland are not so open about their experience and often feel stigmatised by Scottish society.

Robin Hill spoke about the project’s work in cooperation with The Guild and thanked it for its fundraising efforts on behalf of the project. Finally, Mr. Hill mentioned that on an extremely cold January 10th, when Scotland was facing almost freezing conditions, over 10,000 people braved the weather to attend a Souper Sunday, sharing bread, soup and fellowship in their congregation, all in benefit of the HIV/AIDS project.

Panel on Review and Reform

Panel on Review and Reform
The report was presented by the Rev. David Cameron Convener of the Panel. He began his address by reporting on the consultation undertaken by the panel with Presbyteries addressing the following items: (a) possibility of devolved powers for the Presbytery, (b) improved communication, (c) the role and size of Presbytery and diverse aspects of resourcing- financial, human, support and training necessary to support change and reform at presbytery level. Mr. Cameron spoke of the different possible models for structuring presbyteries but stated that there is no one single model of church life. He stated that the Panel believed in the need for diversity within the Church of Scotland and that any agreement on an alternative structure should arise after taking into consideration the particular circumstances of each presbytery.

Mr Cameron then set out proposals for strengthening presbyteries and for re-affirming their mission. He said that the report proposes that presbyteries should assume greater responsibility for their own planning and financial resourcing as well as for developing internal management structures that are flexible and will help it fulfil its mission. “There is unfinished business when it comes to the regional church”, he stated. Power is being concentrated at the centre because of a lack of an adequate repository for it elsewhere. Mr. Cameron pointed out the influence that the Church without Walls Report had on shaping the report and its proposals.

The vision of the Church of Scotland, he pointed out, was to be a “Church which seeks to inspire the people of Scotland and beyond with the Good news of Jesus Christ”. Any proposal for change at presbytery level should therefore facilitate the achievement of this vision. Presbyteries should encourage worship, mission and ministry in the presbytery area; strengthen and support local congregations and their ministries and provide oversight of congregations, ministers and elders. The Panel proposed to pilot test a model of regional church to encourage presbyteries to focus on mission in the local context and to experiment with different forms of operation appropriate to their own situations. Mr. Cameron reiterated that this was not about structural change for the sake of it but about renewal and engagement beyond existing structures.

A number of commissioners spoke in favour of the report praising it as innovative, exciting and bold in its exploration of new directions. It was recognised that there is a great need for Presbytery reform. A motion was presented to consider changes to Act VII 2003 to remove the need for Presbytery plans and other decisions to be approved by Ministries council. The discussion was quite vivid on the floor and when the vote was taken, this motion was approved, as well as all the other deliverances presented.

Report of Ministries Council

This was a long, complex and highly debated report. This summary can only provide a flavour of the nature of the discussions and of the important decisions taken during this session.

The report addressed proposals dealing primarily with 3 aspects of the Council’s work: training, tenure for ministers, and reduction in the number of paid ministers in light of the Kirk’s financial situation. All of these aspects are interrelated and this interelationship became evident in the nature of the deliverances proposed, and the debate that followed the presentation of the report by the convenor, Mr. Graham Finch. This summary will be presented in three parts, addressing each section separately.

Mr. Finch began his address by quoting from Prov. 28:19 “Where there is no vision, the people perish”. He acknowledged that the report would be a difficult one to present and that the proposals within were radical, but he urged the General Assembly to consider the necessity of taking bold decisions if the Church were to have a stable position in the future. He stressed that the report and proposals had been developed to allow the Kirk and the Council to fulfil its remit of giving special priority to the poorest and more marginalised. “ Out of crisis come both vision and opportunity” he stated.


Training. The Convener then presented his proposals for different forms of training ministers and lay people within the Kirk. Mr. Finch referred to the Ministries Training Review, now in its second phase as forming a clear part of the 2020 Vision document and setting the principles that will shape the training programmes and ministries of the Kirk for many years to come. Mr. Finch then presented a broad overview of three training strands for future Ministries of Word and Ministries of Word and Sacrament. The plan contemplates the provision of training readers and ordained local ministries deployed at local level and for ordained ministers at national level. The readership training would be at certificate level, the ordained local minister would be at diploma level and the ordained minister would be at degree level. The specifics of each strand are outlined in section 1.4.6.6 of the Ministries report in page 3/29. The key pointers for future models of training outlined by Mr. Finch were : (a) flexibility of access and delivery, (b) developing selection procedures in relation to vocation and the changing demographics of Scotland;(c) establishing a clear training path to allow for movement within the various ministries recognised by the Kirk. (d) an awareness by those training for ministry of the need to work in an ecumenical manner (e) training patterns should always complement training at a wider level within Scottish society; this should be done in cooperation with other Councils. (f) need to develop training in specialist ministries. (g) need to develop training in cooperation and wit constant dialogue with academic partners.

Discussion pertaining to training issues. Some concern was expressed about the creation of a “hierarchy” of ministers and there were echoes of “second hand ordination”. The lines of managerial support and supervision between ordained national ministry and ordained local ministry seemed somewhat unclear. Comments also arose about the need to focus on the preaching and teaching role of the ministry within a congregation and the excellent current training for ministers. One discussant said, “if it is not broken why fix it?” However most of the comments seemed to centre on the fact that there are currently very few people training for full time ministry, there are many empty charges and there is a need to recognise that lay people, also experience a calling for God to serve and that training should be provided for those calls. Finally, a discussion arose about the renaming of the readership post into a “local ministry of word” but this suggestion was discarded because of the Reformation tradition attached to the title of “reader”. The deliverances related to this section were all approved.


Ministries Council (2) : Tenure and the Number of Ministers
In its report to the General assembly 2009 the council flagged up the fact that the cost of sustaining ministry had reached a critical point and would require significant action. The council then undertook research as well as a consultation exercise with Presbyteries on the best way to fulfil its responsibilities with regard to the provision of ministries in a sustainable way. In particular, the Convener stated that there is an imperative need to deal with a massive deficit. Several proposals were examined and presented to Presbyteries for consultation. Mr. Finch stated that the only way of reducing the deficit was to prune the amount of money spent on paid ministries. “It is more than a pure cost cutting exercise, it is a real opportunity to grow in new ways” said Mr. Finch.
He then referred to the consultation with Presbyteries on Tenure. Eight proposals were put forward to the Presbyteries for consultation prior to the General Assembly and most of the presbyteries seemed to favour the option of maintaining an unrestricted form of tenure for paid ministers as the norm. However, this form of tenure presents serious difficulties for planning provision at Presbytery level. The need for flexibility in planning is crucial argued Mr. Finch as the need to balance the budget is imperative for the future of the Kirk. Tenure was considered by one Presbytery as “a luxury we can no longer afford”.

Discussion on Tenure. There was considerable discussion on the issue of tenure with some arguing for the need for time to develop familiarity and trust with the congregation. Others mentioned the importance of going with a congregation through various stages of life before the fruits of ministry could be seen. Others argued that the freezing of pay for ministers had already been a disincentive and stated that charges advertised without job security were very difficult to fill.

On the opposite view, some commissioners argued forcefully for the need to abandon the tenure mentality and join 21 century labour market conditions, just like every one else. One discussant concluded his address stating “Ministries without end are a bad thing” others stated that this position induces complacency. An amendment was proposed suggesting that unrestricted tenure should not be the norm. There was wide and impassioned debate and an electronic vote was taken where the motion that tenure should not be considered the norm was approved.

Number of Ministers. Mr Finch then addressed the need to reduce the number of paid ministers. He proposed to reduce the number of funded ministries to 1000 full time equivalent posts. This means an effective break with the mentality of one post one person to allow for the planning to be done on full time equivalents. This means that some ministry posts might be done part time, or that some of the duties traditionally carried out by the minister, will be devolved to members of the congregation who will be specifically trained.

Discussion on Number of Ministers. The proposal for the reduction of the number of ministers was also hotly debated. Some argued in favour of asking congregations to give more money. For example, if every member of the congregation gave an additional £22 the projected number of ministers would not need to be cut. Others by contrast argued in favour of letting the spiritual gifts of ordinary members of the congregation flow and take up positions within each parish. “Lay people are willing and able to work in Christ” was stated by one commissioner. Other said “these people are ministers in the full sense of the word, but they will never wear a dog-collar.” In the end, the vote to reduce the number of ministers was approved by the Assembly.

The role of women in the church was also a hotly debated issue, primarily because women have been allowed to be ordained within the Kirk for over 40 years, however, there are still areas within Scotland where congregations for theological reasons, refuse to acknowledge the role of a woman minister. Commissioners spoke against the discrimination of women, at the pulpit, but also within eldership positions within the parish.

Housing and Loan

Housing and Loan Fund

The aim of the fund is to support retired Church of Scotland ministers, widows, widowers and separated or divorced spouses of Church of Scotland ministers in need of help with housing. Mr. Grahame Lees, chairman of the fund presented the accounts of the fund to the General Assembly and stated that in the past year all people who applied for the fund and fitted the need criteria for financial assistance were provided with either a loan for the purchase of a house or with the possibility of letting a house already owned by the Church. Mr. Lees mentioned the persistent evidence for provision of assistance and noted that currently there is a firm commitment of the fund to provide assistance to 39 applications for rent and 26 for loans. These financial commitments amount to £9 million pounds although the Fund only has £2.5 million in reserves. There are currently 16 houses in the market for sale and it is expected that with the improvement of the housing market, the Fund might be able to face the future more confidently. The chairman thanked congregations who have contributed annually to the Fund as well as with bequeaths and gifts. The chairman ended his address by remaining ministers in the General Assembly that if they are within five years of retirement and they feel they may need assistance with housing to contact the Fund as soon as possible, and to consider the houses that are currently on sale by the Kirk.

Report of the Church Hymnary Trustees

The report was presented by its chairman, Mr. George Penrose. He informed the General Assembly that since July 1898 the Church Hymnary had been developed ecumenically. However, recently, the United Free Church expressed its desire to withdraw from this work.

Mr. Penrose stated that over the years other ecumenical partners who had expressed their desire to withdraw from the scheme, were granted a share of the funds equivalent to 2.5% of the Trusts assets in exchange for the Discharge of their interests in the Trust and the copyright to their scores and texts. “This has been the established model for exiting ecumenical partners “said the chairman, and requested therefore that the United Free Church receive a share of the funds in exchange for the copyright of its materials. The General Assembly approved this deliverance.

The chairman then asked the General Assembly to consider the future of the Trust since the church of Scotland was now the only constituent in the Trust. He also asked the Assembly to consider the need for any editions of the Hymnary in the near future.

Video of the Opening of the General Assembly

I have found a small collection of photographs detailing the opening of the General Assembly. Follow this link to have a look.

Parish Development Fund

Martin Fair began his address by mentioning that £675,000 has been dispersed through the fund in support of 22 main projects, 7 pilot projects and 14 training and research grants. He proceeded to remind the General Assembly that the fund is a means with which to enable congregations to reach their goals of spreading the work of the Lord.

His report provided examples of congregations beaming with confidence and of armies of volunteers. Particularly poignant was the recounted testimony of a young heroin addict who would have continued living a life of despair, low self esteem, addiction and self destruction, were it not for the work of people within his community who attended the local church. Within the church, he received affirmation, support and help in a non-judgemental manner. His life is now changed, being two years drug free, with a steady job and contemplating with delight his future marriage.

Mr. Fair stated that the aim of the Parish Development Fund was “to get out of the way and facilitate the work of congregations in doing what they do best… spread the Gospel in action”. The Fund continues to be committed to support the Church’s work in priority areas. He expressed his thanks to the commitment of congregations who truly have become radical churches living by the Gospel and thanked the work of the Fund’s staff, which not only travel to congregations and help with admin work, “but actually help visions to become realities”. He stated that in spite of the financial situation of the Kirk, the fund has earmarked funds to continue with its work for the next two years.

World Mission Council

The convenor of the Council Mr. Colin Renwick started his address by highlighting the plight of Christians living in Muslim countries. He stressed his firm desire for better understanding and friendship and solidarity between the two faiths. The General Assembly then saw a short clip detailing the growth of Christianity in Nepal. Until 1950 Christianity was prohibited in Nepal, however now the country is home to 500,000 Christians. Their first and biggest challenge is to find ways of living the Christian Gospel within a local cultural idiom and language, expressing their Christianity in a way that is acceptable to non-Christians in their midst. The second challenge is that of access to Christian education. Most Christian communities in Nepal have no ministers and the need for training is acute.

The convenor, then reported on the closure of St Colms College, also known as International House due to financial difficulties. Mr Renwick stated his personal sadness at having reached such a decision but reassured the General Assembly that the ethos of St Colms is now carried out by new organisations working in cooperation with World Mission Council such as the ICC for the training if missionaries, or the work of diverse retreat houses throughout Scotland such as The Bield in Perthshire.

The convenor then presented an update on the work carried out by the Scots Hotel in Israel and stated his delight at the increased standing that the hotel has recently received by reviewers. The management of the hotel is currently under review in order that it might maintain its high standing, but continue to serve in hospitality to ecumenical pilgrims. New members of staff were presented to the General Assembly in particular, Ms. Jenny Williamson.

The convenor then reported the Council withdrew from the Scottish Churches China Group and is now an active member of CTBI’s China Forum” He then reported on the plan of St Andrew’s Nassau and Lucaya Kirk, in Freeport to form the Presbyterian Church of the Bahamas. The churches propose to affiliate in an interim form with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of the USA. Mr. Renwick stated the council’s best wishes towards this development of a Presbyterian Church in The Bahamas and confirmed that contacts with a view to future cooperation will be maintained.
The convenor ended his address by encouraging the commissioners to reflect on the fact that Christians in Scotland need the input from the Christians around the world. “Twinning mechanisms with other Christian parishes around the world brings liberation to the poor as well as the rich” he concluded.

Discussion concentrated on the plight of Christians who experience discrimination because of their faith overseas. Suggestions towards undertaking official lobbying with diverse international organisations, like the EU was suggested. The convenor mentioned that this is contemplated possibly in cooperation with Church and Society council.

Members of different churches overseas and distinguished guests raised the work of the Council notably, representatives from Ghana, Nassau, Palestine/Israel, Malawi and the Czech Republic and Zimbabwe. In many cases informal updates reports from these countries were submitted.

The discussion then focussed on the importance of being aware of our carbon footprint, particularly when flying overseas. Flying for the work of the Lord should be considered carefully, weighing it against flaying purely for pleasure. The plight of countries suffering the consequences of climate change where the Church of Scotland has partnership agreements was highlighted.

Third Article Declaratory of the Constitution of the Church of Scotland

Special Commission Anent the Third Article Declaratory of the Constitution of the Church of Scotland in Matters Spiritual

The Special Commission was appointed by the General Assembly in 2008 with the following remit:
1) To consider the relevance of the Third Article Declaratory in today’s Scotland.
2) To investigate and report upon the relationship between the Third Article Declaratory and the current: (a) parish staffing policy and Presbytery Plans. (b) Financing of the Church’s work.
3) To consider the effect upon the Church of Scotland and its structure if the Third Article Declaratory was retained, modified or removed taking full account in its deliberations of the Church of Scotland’s declared priority for the poorest urban and rural parishes as the Gospel imperative facing the whole Church.
4) To make recommendations regarding the future of the Third Article Declaratory
5) To report to the General Assembly of 2010 and instruct the Selection Committee to bring names to a future session of the General Assembly taking full account of the need for appropriate representation from the poorest urban and rural parishes in Scotland.

Dr. Alan McDonald presented the report of the Special Commission. He started his address by recalling the figures in his life that influenced him to leave the law as a profession to follow a calling to the ministry, particularly in priority areas. The Church of Scotland has a declared priority to serve the poorest urban and rural parishes. The Commission under his charge went on the road, travelling throughout Scotland to get glimpses and snapshots of territorial ministries.

Dr. MacDonald shared with the audience memories of people that impacted him whilst on the road. He spoke of the courage of the young man that had to cross a gang-infested area, placing his life in danger, in order to attend church; or the work of parishioners in Caithness who had been serving their community without a Minister for many years and had developed new gifts and a true calling to serve. Or the comments of a parishioner from a wealthy congregation, who stated unambiguously that he was happy his contributions went to finance the excellent work of the Church of Scotland in priority areas of Scotland. He categorically stated that The Church of Scotland is not conceived on a supermarket model solely looking at economical imperatives, but as the Church of the crucified and risen Christ where no part of Scotland could be seen as disposable.

Dr McDonald’s address was considered truly inspirational; however, issues for discussion arose around the sustainability of the current model of full time ministry since 2/3 of congregations cannot support their own ministers. The significance of the Third Article and of the ensuing report was discussed in light of the planning work done by presbyteries. “Larger parishes, less ministers” was rumoured through the main hall.

Discussions arose around the meaning of “new church” and whether there was a need for a full time minister and church buildings in order to worship and serve God. Different positions were expressed; some in support of the traditional approach to buildings, worship staffing models. Others supporting an openness to alternate forms of ministry provided such ministries followed a Biblical model.

The discussion then moved on to address the nature and type of training planned for congregation members to enable them to better serve their communities conducting different aspects of worship and the delivery of sacraments in the absence of a minister. The session concluded after lunch with a unanimous feeling that the address was truly inspirational. “It made me proud to be a minister” said one of the commissioners.

Overview on Ecumenical Relations

Reverend Alan Falconer presented the report on ecumenical relations to the General Assembly. He started by detailing the changes undergone in the past 5 years by most of the organisations addressing ecumenical relations (Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, The Conference of European Churches, The Community of Protestant Churches in Europe, the World Council of Churches, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and Action of Churches Together in Scotland). Almost off of these bodies have undergone in some respect changes to their structures and policies. These changes have impacted the level of the debate carried with the Church of Scotland.
Rev. Falconer highlighted the work of the joint Commission on Doctrine with members of the Church of Scotland and the Roman Catholic Church which published a joint report on baptism as a study guide for local congregations. This informational pack includes an informational leaflet, PowerPoint presentations and the production of a joint liturgy for the reaffirmation of baptismal vows. The liturgy also had the contribution of members of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

There seems to be the development of growing trust between the Churches, stated Rev. Falconer which has been built over the years of work within the Joint Commission. This can be seen in the celebration of a symposium celebrating the 500 anniversary of the birth of John Calvin in 2009, where scholars from the Roman Catholic tradition presented papers attesting to the impact and importance of the work of Calvin and the reformation. “This type of symposium would have been unthinkable 50 years ago”, stated Rev. Falconer.

Rev. Falconer then proceeded to present in detail the activities undertaken with Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS). Specific activities with each body were presented reiterating the overarching goal of supporting ecumenism within a vision of visible unit. The Kirk’s commitment to ACTS was reiterated in spite of the fact that financial contributions form ecumenical instruments in Britain and Ireland have diminished leaving the Church of Scotland as the larger contributor to ACTS. This position is not looked upon as healthy, stated Rev. Falconer. Questions arose as to the current financial commitment towards the funding of ACTS to the levels of what constitutes the salaries of 3 full time ministers.

A long discussion ensued on diverse interpretation of the sacrament of baptism, and the work that has been done at ecumenical level to produce joint resources for baptismal liturgy. These resources are currently available on a CD. Rev. Falconer stressed the importance of seeing baptismal regeneration as God’s sign of his Grace and a symbol of an individual’s entry into the Church and not just as a vehicle for ecumenical convenience.

The discussion moved to highlight that congregations of different denominations meet together to work and worship together whether there are formally stated ecumenical relationships, or whether because of geographical proximity and common interests, congregations decide to undertake joint projects even without formally sanctioned agreements. “We are all working together for the Kingdom of God” was expressed during the discussions that followed. Finally, representatives from different denominations spoke in support of the joint work being undertaken by the Kirk and their respective churches.

Council of Assembly Report

Rev. Alan Greig, Convenor of the Council of Assembly presented its report. He detailed the overall financial condition of the Kirk stating that although thanks to a certain recovery in the stock market, its investment value had increased slightly, the overall financial condition of the Kirk was still in the red. He stated that the Kirk’s accounts are being audited and have been approved by Price Waterhouse Coopers. The Kirk’s councils will have the difficult task of working within their budgets in spite of the fact that currently they have consistently been over budget for the past year. Rev. Greig thanked the financial contribution of congregations across Scotland, but stated that some congregations might still need to be challenged and brought forward the importance of the National Stewardship Programme with which to increase the level of financial input from parish churches into the Kirk.

Rev. Greig the presented a modification in the HIV/Aids programme which will now be known as The Church of Scotland HIV/Aids programme. Grants made to this programme in the future will be limited to support partner churches outwith the UK. He then proceeded to present to the Assembly new members of staff. Mr. Stuart Wilson in the post of head of media and communications and Mrs. Pauline Weibye as Secretary to the Council of the Assembly. Mrs Weibye, Session Clerk at Craigmillar Park Church, Edinburgh, has spent her working life in the public sector in a variety of management roles, joining local government soon after graduating from the University of Edinburgh. Mrs Weibye has been a member of the Central Services Committee of the Church of Scotland since 2005 and Vice Convenor (Human Resources) since 2006.
The Convenor presented and update on the development of the Church of Scotland’s website, which will be operational in the summer and responded to questions on the development and standardisation of presbytery websites by stating that although there is not yet an established programme, the Media and web-team would be happy to provide support to presbyteries.

The financial situation of the Kirk attracted considerable discussion, with commissioner’s discussing the viability of each congregation adopting a stewardship programme and the levels of contributions needed. The following two questions seem to summarise one side of the discussion…“One size does not fit all” or “Would it be agreeable that each congregations pays not what it wants to pay but what it is capable of paying? On the other hand, “the just because you are small you cannot do anything approach is not acceptable” was the counter argument. Other voices stated that “the process must be fair on congregations and they should contribute as appropriate”.

The discussion then moved to the mechanisms for financial planning at presbytery level in the case of centrally funded and locally funded posts.

Highlights of 200 years of the Bible Society in Scotland

The Chief Executive of the Bible Society Ms Elaine Duncan presented an account of the activities that were undertaken by the Bible Society in their celebration of the 200 years of the Scottish Bible Society.

Pride of place was given to the development of a DVD of the Bible in Glasgow vernacular in cooperation with the Herald and Collie production. This action, said Ms. Duncan, disseminated the Bible to many households in Scotland that would otherwise not have had access in the vernacular. Ms. Duncan mentioned her pride during the reception hosted at the Scottish Parliament of the way in which MSPs proffered their faith in Jesus Christ and honoured the Bible.

The Bible Society supported various appeals throughout the year. There was the “Bibles and Bandages” appeal in Brazil and a translation project in Vietnam. The Brazilian appeal reached over £250,000 to provide a bus that will circulate amongst the Northeast part of Brazil, distributing Bibles amongst local Christian communities. In Vietnam the situation is completely different. The most current translation of the Bible in Vietnamese was written 150 years ago, therefore, the Bible Society sponsored the translation of the Bible in modern Vietnamese. Ms Duncan reported an absolute hunger for the Bible in Vietnam.

The Bible Society hosted visitors from the Church in China. The Chinese delegation came to Scotland during 2010 to celebrate 25 years of close collaboration between the Church in China and The Bible Society. There are currently 23 million Christians in China and according to reports form the elders that visited Scotland, the numbers of Christians are still growing.

Finally, Ms. Duncan presented a taster of activities for 2011. This will be the 400 anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible. She presented the general Assembly with a sobering thought reflecting on the words of a Christian in Romania. “You have had the Bible in your language for 400 years” what has gone wrong?”

She ended her address with a call for the Kirk to join in celebration of the King James’ version through a reflection of the impact this particular version of the Bible has had on the life, language, education and the arts of the English-speaking world.

The General Assembly kicks off

The General Assembly got constituted today. Sir David Clive Wilson, Lord of Tillyorn was welcomed as the High Commissioner for the Kirk’s General Assembly. The High Commissioner is the Queen’s personal representative to the General Assembly.

In his address to the General Assembly the High Commissioner spoke of his professional experiences in the Far east, notably, China and Hong Kong and of the work where he witnessed the work of men and women of faith helping communities to develop a light of hope. On his return to Scotland, the High Commissioner noted his awareness of the importance of parish churches as an active player in the regeneration of communities. The High Commissioner wished the General Assembly wisdom and a fruitful discussion. The full speech can be accessed here.

Hello World

This blog is devoted to relaying information about the 2010 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.